Along with two other lawmakers, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) and state Sen. Loni Hancock (D-Oakland), she has begun drafting legislation, AB 2512, that they believe would help accomplish that goal.

AB 2512 would do two things. First, it would ban large-capacity conversion kits, which allow one to fire more than 10 rounds without reloading. Secondly, it would force ammunition suppliers to report, within 24 hours, anyone who purchased more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, within any five-day period, to local police.

Failure to comply with either provision would result in a misdemeanor charge, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed six months, or by both.

As to how AB 2512 would actually stop a gunman like the Colorado shooter, the three lawmakers explained:

“The individual in Colorado was able to amass over 6,000 rounds of ammunition in a very short time period … undetected, without any kind of notice,” Skinner told local reporters, adding that most Californians “are probably shocked to realize there are no regulations in place for the sale of ammunition.”

Skinner went on to say that if law enforcement had knowledge of someone stockpiling ammo in a short period of time, officers could “interact with them” to see if they have any mental issues.

Hancock characterized the bill as a necessary step to close a “loophole.”

“This legislation will close a loophole that allows people to purchase large caches of deadly ammunition without law enforcement’s knowledge and devices intended to get around the ban on large capacity cartridges,” Hancock said.

He added, “Hopefully, it will further protect the public from becoming a victim of gun violence and prevent tragedies like the one in Aurora, Colorado.”

In addition to making it putatively harder for sociopaths to obtain high-capacity magazines, Ammiano viewed the bill as a boon for local law enforcement.

“We want to do what we can to prevent future deadly attacks with multiple casualties. Why not make it harder for perpetrators to fire off hundreds of rounds of ammunition in a short time?” Ammiano asked in his statement.

“We’re not taking ammunition away from legitimate sportsmen and women,” Ammiano said. “We just want to be sure local law enforcement has the tools it needs to stay ahead.”

This bill is currently in the drafting stage and comes at the heels of a federal bill that seeks to ban the online sale of ammunition for average citizens, the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act (for more on this, click here).

Obviously, gun owners in California are questioning the logic of these three lawmakers.

Attorney Chuck Michel, a spokesman for the California Rifle and Pistol Association told Mercury News, “Americans are more overwhelmingly in support of the right to choose to own a gun to defend their families than ever before,” and AB 2512 wouldn’t “have done anything to stop crazy people from committing violent crimes.”

Additionally, Michel said that AB 2512 would shift “overwhelming record-keeping” onto local ammo shops, noting an obvious fact to all gun owners: 1,000 rounds “is actually not that much,” and many buyers will exceed it, swamping police with useless data on law-abiding citizens.

“These opportunistic proposals are just being pushed to get politicians’ names in the news — they know these feel-good bills are not going to stop violent criminals,” Michel said. “It’s part of a gun-ban agenda to make choosing to own a gun as burdensome as possible.”

Would regulating the sale of ammo be, in any conceivable way, helpful at stopping spree shooters?

Post your Comments

This woman is so beyond stupid. The shear number of rounds of ammuition already out there is staggering. Even if they started today, it would take decades to purge everything held in private stock. Get real and get behind laws currently in place and quit dreaming up stupid ideas.

I have a friend who just got robbed in San Francisco. They hit him over the head with a 2x4 and took his watch and wallet. I really want to help solve this problem and make sure it never happens to anyone again. I think we need a law in place that says if anybody buys more than three 2x4's they should be investigated by the police. I would rally for a complete ban of 2x4's, but I understand they use them in construction. However, it does kill trees, and California loves the trees. So yeah, NO MORE 2x4's! Better yet, let's just assign one police officer to every citizen to watch over them and keep us safe. This plan will employ 50% of America and keep the dreaded 2x4's off the street. Oh, and it's not your fault your fat, it's all McDonald's fault...and your depressed because your Mom didn't breast feed you. Have a nice day!

So you can't buy more than a thousand rnds a week...big deal, besides that, what's to stop me from buying from different sources throughout the week, some retail, some wholsale, some internet, some gunshow, there, I just effectivley beat the system...the Aurora shooter didn't plan this in a week, it took several weeks maybe months, an yet he only amassed 6000rnds, so he effectivley beat the system...just another dumb idea from people who really don't have a clue...

I was in a biker bar a few years back and some kid came in and yelled "this is a stick up." the sound of the fire arms ranking one in was deafening...His response was.."Just kidding" as he handed the bar keep his gun and started to walk out. Mind you the large gentlemen walking out with him more then likely hand something to say to him about his "joke" but the bar was not robbed.

LEO can come knocking at my door anytime, I have nothing to hide, I'm not paranoid, nor am I afraid, HOWEVER, what they do need to know when they come here is, I'm armed, I will NOT be a victim, and I will be treated with respect as I will give respect, any "violation" of those items will get them shown to the road...

Neither do I... but when they come to my house to see what i'm "up to" see my loaded firearms and ammo stock i'm sure i'll get a little check-mark next to my name that'll end up in some "system". All of my firearms are serialized and registered that should be enough info for them.

And now law enforement will have the job of a doctor? They can determine based on what you spent your money on that you are or not crazy? You will see many illegal 5150 arrests! And this will cost money to the state, also! Not addressing law suits for being forced to spend 72 hours in a locked mental institute so that a real Doctor can determine if these people are crazy or not!

You guys miss the point. What these gun grabbers really want is to know what guns, what kinds of guns you have. Registering AMMO is a backdoor method of gun registration. If you are buying 1000 rounds of 223, it's a pretty good guess that you have a Mini-14, an AR-15 or something similar. You guys REALLY need to get into reloading before it's too late.

Brian J. Schmidt
Obviously you are not familiar with Murpy's Law. It is like this: they will come to check your 1000 rounds and one of those idiots will confuse your cell phone for a gun, he will pump you full of lead before respect comes into consideration.
They want to prevent people's the exposure to killing? Here is one thing they can do: stay the hell away from citizens who legally purchase what they want…………...!!!!!!!!!

You guys miss the point. What these gun grabbers really want is to know what guns, what kinds of guns you have. Registering AMMO is a backdoor method of gun registration. If you are buying 1000 rounds of 223, it's a pretty good guess that you have a Mini-14, an AR-15 or something similar. You guys REALLY need to get into reloading before it's too late.

Something we all probably know, but I need to say.....None of these laws have anything to do with fighting, reducing or impacting crimes of any kind. These laws target specifically, US, the law abiding, Constitution loving gun owners. WE irritate the left. We are a thorn in their side, a burr under their saddle. There is not a law that can be written or enforced that can exclusive to its self stop a determined criminal, a psychopathic killer, homicidal maniac or a spree killer out on a rampage. There is no punishment or consequence severe or harsh enough to deter them or to give them pause before lashing out at an unwitting and unfortunately an ill-prepared society. A society that I fear will will never come to terms with the cold hard truth that it is the individual that is responsible for their own safety and security. It is the individual that should be held accountable for their actions if they act outside of the boundaries of the law. I know there are many who already grasp that we cannot entrust our safety, security and ultimately our lives, or the lives of those we love to the impotent and powerless ink that some activist legislator with a personal grudge that was put on paper with the sole intent of chipping away at the liberties of its lawful citizens without any honest intent at curbing violence or thwarting criminal activity. I am disgusted pathetic myopic attempts at using fear and the memory of recent tragic events to their benefit in trying to pass more meaningless legislation under the banner of security and safety. The only true way for one armed man bent on destruction is another armed man or woman prepared to stop them. Legislation like this only serve to take away our ability to that and ultimately their goal is to disarm American citizens that can and will stand in harms way, but more importantly stand in the way of government officials hell bent on tearing down the framework and ripping at the fabric of a nation will not roll over and play stupid and dead for them.

Good job Greg! I can't believe they are going to start tracking ammunition sales again (sigh). Jerry Brown should know that it didn't work when he was governor last time to cut-down or deter violent crime and it certainly isn't going to work this go-around either.

You guys miss the point. What these gun grabbers really want is to know what guns, what kinds of guns you have. Registering AMMO is a backdoor method of gun registration. If you are buying 1000 rounds of 223, it's a pretty good guess that you have a Mini-14, an AR-15 or something similar. You guys REALLY need to get into reloading before it's too late.

So....how many killers who go to all the trouble of shooting up a club or movie theather or any place else actually shoot off more than one box of ammo anyway? Most shootings take place with out ever a reload of the weapon. There are those few that are extream...but it would all be under controll if the mental health folks were alowed to do their job with out so much restrictions...it's a finger pointing witch hunt....who can we blame for our troubled people? Yes, lets blame the guns and ammo, if it were not for this stuff being purchased (or stolen) buy sick people they would only have knives and bats to work with and that's OK. Just venting a little.

How does someone with that mentality get elected? How does the purchase of any amount of ammunition alert anyone of anything? Maybe it will stop someone who is trying to invade Cuba on his own? They must not have anything to do, to pass such preposterous stupidity on the voter's nickel. This disgusting do- gooders remind me of the saying : The road to hell is paved with good intentions!

As usual the idiots in government missed the point, HELP WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP FOR POTENTIAL KILLERS: banning guns will not solve 1% of the problem. Concentrate in the real problem which is 99% of the cause of murder. The.problem IS IN THE -- " MIND " -- OF THE KILLERS not in THE DEVICE THEY USE TO KILL. Your solutions suck! Availability of devices to kill can not be eradicated, if we make plastic bags, rocks and knives unavailable, probably we would prevent another few deaths, but the problem is PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL, not availability of killing devices (think of knives). I keep thinking "the masses truly are asses.

Idiot. A disjointed, propaganda vomiting, babbling idiot. How can they NOT see that what they propose will serve NO purpose. How can they NOT see the changes they want to make will make NO difference? Because it not the act of making ammo sales reportable over a certain number. It about the distraction from the true disarming agenda. It's stepping stones to an ultimate end. Liberty isn't eaten away in huge bites. It's nibbled away at, slowly over time.

You guys miss the point. What these gun grabbers really want is to know what guns, what kinds of guns you have. Registering AMMO is a backdoor method of gun registration. If you are buying 1000 rounds of 223, it's a pretty good guess that you have a Mini-14, an AR-15 or something similar. You guys REALLY need to get into reloading before it's too late.

Doesn't this dip shit and all the others know that criminals don't buy their guns and ammo from legitimate dealers BECAUSE they don't want what they are doing known. All they'll be doing is tracking how much ammo is used during hunting season.Wake up morons criminals don't follow the law!

I got a great idea for a gun law. No politician should be allowed to start or vote on a gun law until they shoot at least 1,000 rounds. 500 from an AR-15 and 500 from a full size 9mm pistol. I bet many anti gun politicians would change their minds then.

This is not right. Even "if" they passed this law..a person who is intent on committing a heinous crime can certainly bide his time purchasing 500 rounds, waiting a bit, buying 500 more...etc. This is a lame backdoor attempt to curtail the 2nd amendment rights afforded us by our Bill of Rights. Take note, each sponsor of the bill has a "D" before their names.

What she is failing to mention is that the use of a high-capacity magazine caused the weapon to fail and possibly prevented additional casualties. In light of the facts, maybe they should require all weapons to come with a high-capacity magazine.

In my opinion, if a criminal is sufficiently motivated to commit the crime, there is no stopping them unless they make a mistake during their preparations to commit said crime. While this measure may flag some individuals as "stockpilers," it is unlikely to flag the criminals they intend. Often criminals do not go through legitimate channel's for weapons and ammunition. This bill is more likely to increase the burden on law enforcement without increasing their funding to give them the ability to hire the investigators needed to enforce this measure. My opinion, no net positive effect from this bill, just more overhead for the shop owners and law enforcement.

So this brings us to other weapons of choice suce as Knives and Clubs....what will the law makers do about Kitchen Knives and Bats? I feel so sorry for the future of cooks and BaseBall Players....they will have to register as potential killers....what will be next?

You guys miss the point. What these gun grabbers really want is to know what guns, what kinds of guns you have. Registering AMMO is a backdoor method of gun registration. If you are buying 1000 rounds of 223, it's a pretty good guess that you have a Mini-14, an AR-15 or something similar. You guys REALLY need to get into reloading before it's too late.